FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
There are always a lot of questions when deciding on a quality preschool for your child. We have put together a list of the top questions, if your questions is not listed please call or send us an email and we will be happy to answer it for you!
Is the A Happy Healthy Start Program a licensed and insured program?
Yes! AHHS program is licensed in good standing through the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) and fully insured.
​
Are all of your staff members CPR Certified?
Yes! All teachers at AHHS are CORI/SORI checked, adult and pediatric CPR and First Aid Certified, and registered with the Background Record Check system for childcare settings in the state of MA.
​
What is your teacher to student ratio?
A Happy Healthy Start maintains small teacher to student ratios to ensure each student has the opportunity for individual and small group instruction. Most classes keep a 6:1 student/teacher ratio. ​​​ ​
​​
What is the current tuition rates?
A Happy Healthy Start tuition is $71.00 daily. *This is subject to change, please confirm when scheduling tour.
​
What is a play based curriculum?
-
Play-based preschool classrooms are set up in sections, usually having a kitchen area, a play house, a reading nook, a sensory table, a block area, etc. Much of the class time is made up of free-choice centers, where children go to one of these areas in the classroom and “play”.
-
Teachers incorporate academic skills through theme-based activities and may add theme-based props to classroom learning centers.
-
The main goal is to develop social and emotional skills by teacher modeling.
-
The teacher acts as a facilitator of learning rather than a lecturer of direct instruction.
-
Students’ progress is monitored by their participation in hands-on activities and observational assessments, not by worksheets and drills.
-
Play-based classrooms are more about the process of learning and are less concerned about the product. Teachers work hard to create an atmosphere of discovery, exploration and appropriate risk-taking.
-
Many play-based preschool programs invite children to help decide which topics will be taught. Space or oceans this month?
-
Academics are taught by weaving literacy and math into all learning areas. For example, the dramatic play center will have a pad of paper and some pencils to make a grocery list when set up like a grocery store, or the sensory table might have play dough and rocks when learning about the Great Wall of China in an around the world preschool theme.
-
Overall this type of program uses the BEST time and BEST activities that day to encourage the BEST learning!